Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 7, 1993 TAG: 9310070035
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MELANIE S. HATTER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"It's a new kind of television," said its new vice president and general manager, Stan Marinoff, citing the station's new slogan.
The station was purchased this year by Milt Grant of Grant Communications of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., from Tampa-based Roanoke-Lynchburg TV Acquisition Corp. New management took over late last month.
Grant owns two other Fox affiliates, in Davenport, Iowa, and Huntsville, Ala.
WJPR/WVFT said in February that Roanoke-Lynchburg TV Acquisition owners Thomas Carney and Henry Ash had decided to split their interests because of professional and personal differences.
Marinoff joined the new staff Friday, replacing Robb Gray, who was fired in September.
"My job is to clean the station up and get it running in the right direction," Marinoff said.
Promotions Manager Glenda Owens said the biggest problem was the station's broadcast signal. WJPR/WVFT had frequently gone off the air because of transmitter problems. The new owner has bought a new transmitter and plans to buy a backup generator to keep the station running when problems arise.
The changes are "a new commitment to our viewers" - giving them what they want, Owens said.
Marinoff said Grant has been in broadcasting for 40 years. "He's a professional broadcaster and that's what makes the difference."
Marinoff was a vice president of programming and operations in Augusta, Ga.
The Roanoke station has not done well in the ratings, partly because of its weak signal. Arbitron's Television Market Report in May gave the Fox station a 3 rating, meaning the percentage of all TV households turned to its signal, and a 6 share, or the percentage of households watching TV at 6 p.m.
"We are not a news and information station," Marinoff said. "We're an entertainment alternative. News is important, but there are other places to get that."
WJPR/WVFT is rearranging its programming to include movies that run back-to-back on weekends. Children's programs will continue to be an important element.
Memo: ***CORRECTION***